There has been a change of plans for our Springwater Trails maintenance day on Sunday.  Last week, flooding caused quite a bit of damage around Branchport and Penn Yan, including at Camp Good Days.  We have decided to travel to Camp Good Days on Sunday to help the clean up in preparation for their camping season that starts May 31.

Update posted on Saturday.  We talked with the volunteer coordinator at the Camp yesterday, and we are expected on Sunday.  Please join us for what should be an enjoyable afternoon of hard work.  High of 74 is predicted with clouds, but don’t forget a hat and sunglasses for times when the sun is out.

We will plan to be at Camp Good Days at 12:30 and to work until they quit for the day around 4:00.  Work will involve cleaning up debris and painting and probably other tasks to repair damage.  Please bring boots for the mud and gloves.  A rake or shovel would be good tools to bring, but put your name on your tools. If you wish to bring a wheel barrow, that could well be useful.  A sandwich and water will help sustain you through the afternoon.  Finally, if you want to contribute snacks to the camp, any prepackaged snacks such a granola bars or bottled water will be accepted and used by future volunteers.

After work, we will find a place to eat before the trip home – possibly Keuka Corners Pizza on Italy Hill Rd in Branchport.  We will be flexible.

Branchport is about an hour from Springwater, so car pooling is recommended. Good points to car pool would be

Springwater Town Hall – Arrive at 11:15 and plan to leave the town hall at 11:30.
Wayland Food Mart – plan to leave at 11:35.
Eastview Mall – please RSVP to [email protected] to organize a meeting place.  Plan to leave at 11:15.
Melissa’s house south of Honeoye – please RSVP to treasurer@springwatertrails.org for directions.  Plan to leave at 11:30.

Directions:

From Wayland: Take Rt 21N to Naples.  Turn right on Rt 53 S (S Main St).  In 1.3 miles, turn left onto Italy Valley Rd.  In 5.5 miles, bear right onto Italy Hill Turnpike. At the T, (3.0 mi) turn left onto Italy Hill Rd/Prattsburg Friend Rd. Stay on Italy Hill Rd into Branchport.  Turn right onto NY 54A South.  Camp Good Days is on the left 0.9 miles down 54A.

From Rochester: Take NYS Thruway to Exit 44 (Canandaigua) and proceed south on Route 332. Go through the City of Canandaigua and proceed east (left) on Routes 5 & 20 for about 8 miles. Make a right on to County Rd. 5 (there is a small green sign that will point you to Penn Yan). Continue on County Rd. 5 to Route 14A. Take Route 14A south to Penn Yan and bear right at Route 54A. Take Route 54A straight ahead to the village of Branchport. Make a left at the light in Branchport. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Alternate route from Rochester: according to Google and AAA: From Canandaigua, go east on Routes 5&20 for 3.3 miles.  Turn right onto NY 247 for 11.1mi.  Turn left ony NY 364E for 1 mi, then right onto Friend Rd. Stay on Friend Rd for 4.2 miles.  Turn left onto Friend Hill Rd for 0.5 miles, then right onto Guyanogo Rd to Branchport.  Continue straight ahead onto Route 54A. Look for the Camp Good Days sign approximately ½ mile down the road on the left. 

Sunday Hike May 18

On a clear day you can see forever…from the summit of Hi Tor. Let’s hope Mother Nature will bless us with some sunshine.  This week’s hike will take us up to an outstanding view of Canandaigua Lake and the hills that surround it. We will be using the FLT Orange and Blue trails.  Copies of the maps will be provided.

We will all meet at the DEC parking area on Rt 245 in Naples  (directions will follow this description).  Our groups will use two different routes to scale the heights.  Because two of the trails involve climbing, I will refer to them as Climbers 1  and Climbers 2.  Hiking boots are recommended as the trail is rocky and wet.  There are a couple of creek crossings for the climber groups.

Naturalists  are the lucky ones today.  They will begin at the parking area and meander through the flats along Naples Creek, checking out wildflowers, budding trees, and stream life.  This group can saunter along the creek past the cut off for the FLT Orange trail and continue as long as the trail holds out.

Climbers 1  will proceed from the parking area along the Orange FLT Trail, bearing left after about one half mile.  Soon they will begin a steady up hill climb for about 1.7 miles, gradual, not especially steep.  Some scenic ravines along the way.  At the junction of the Blue Trail, the group will bear left and continue uphill for another mile to the DEC lean to and scenic overlook.    Return trip is descending by the same route.  Total hike about 6.6 miles.

Climbers 2  will have a shorter but steeper route to the top.  From the meeting place, this group will car pool to the Blue Trail access 5D on Parrish Hill Rd. and leave vehicles there.  They will follow the Blue trail to the overlook.  The trail heads up steeply then down steeply to cross a creek.  Another steep ascent awaits, but climbers will be rewarded with gorgeous views of the gorge and falls.  Eventually they will arrive at the lean to and scenic view down the lake.  Total climb about 1.2 miles, approximately 45 minutes.  Hopefully  they will meet up with the Climbers 1 group at the lean to.  This group can descend by the same route  (for a total of 2.4 miles roundtrip) or take the longer hike down to the Orange trail and back to the meeting place on 245, where fellow hikers will hopefully ferry them back to retrieve their vehicles on Parrish Hill Rd. (4.5 miles total roundtrip)

Directions

From the North take Route 21 or Route 64 (which merges with 21 in Bristol Springs).  Just north of the village of Naples, turn left on Rt 245.  Parking area is just past bridge, in front of DEC building.

From the South, take Route 21 through the village of Naples.  Turn right on 245, right across from Bob and Ruth’s.  Parking area is about .1 miles,  just past the bridge.  Look for the Springwater Trails sign.

Social will be at the town park which is just East of the meeting place on 245.  Please bring something to share or a contribution to the food fund.  Mark may have some hots to grill.